Treasure of the Sierra Madre Paperback – July 21, 2020

I’m a huge fan of John Huston movies, and this novel really gives you a deeper dive into “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” than the film could do. It was a smooth and relatively quick read, and I felt the socio-economic aspects put the plot in historical perspective. A thoroughly enjoyable story. I plan to read other books by this author.

I'd seen the movie a few months ago and wanted to read the book. I wanted to make sure nothing happened to my main man, Howard, in the book.If you haven't seen the movie, a couple of down-on-their-luck men, Dobbs and Curtin, team up with an experienced prospector (Howard) to try their luck mining for gold. They gather some burros and head out into the mountainous region of the Sierra Madre.This is a pretty good book. It doesn't focus on the high points of prospecting or the riches you gain in the end. It shows what can happen when all you work for is something that won't last. It's a cautionary tale, but it isn't wrapped up in obvious preaching.A quick mention of the movie. It stayed pretty true to the book with some minor variations. I felt kind of bad for the "Cody/Lacaud" character.I enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone looking for a good adventure. The writing holds up well for being written in 1927 by a mysterious German whose real identity has never been discovered.

Nothing to dislike here. Both novel and movie adaptation are excellent.

Great book. A fun read with life lesson overtones hidden inside. The movie is a good adaptation of the book. There are some changes though that make it interesting.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (starring Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston and directed by Walter Huston's son John) won several Oscars in 1948. It is considered one of the best movies of all time. The book is even better. Tampico in the 1920s was a boom town because of oil and cattle. Fleeing a volatile US economy many hobos and vagabonds ended up there. Three of them decide to try another traditional Mexican activity, mining, and head for the Sierra Madre. What follows is high adventure: gold is found, has to be hidden and then brought back by the motley group to civilization, in the face of Mexico's merciless climate and bandidos. No one better to tell the tale than B. Traven, the Mexican-German writer who pours his adventurous life into his stories, suffused with savage satire and moral indignation. The ending goes beyond Chaucer.

Enjoyed reading it. I admit that as I read it I kept picturing the actors from the movie as the characters in the book.

The book provides great insights into human nature examining the corrupting nature of temptation. Interesting examination of the dark role of the Catholic Church in Mexican history.

Almost always the book is better than the movie. In this rare instance, the movie with Humphrey Bogart, John and Walter Huston, is better than the book. In the book, the mysterious German author (he used a pen name) goes on long and false diatribes against the Catholic Church; because the author was most likely a German atheist and marxist who escaped from jail and fled Germany in the early 1920’s for Mexico. He also is quite ambivalent toward Mexico, and his politics gets in the way of his novel. I recommend watching the movie instead of reading the book.

Exactly like my favorite movie. Didn't realize that John Houston followed the book so Exactly.

Loved it.

Brilliant book. Bought it as the result of a crossword clue, which made me research the story. So pleased I bought itfor my partner.

A true classic. An adventure and morality tale about gold prospecting, bandits and greed. Something in between Jack London and Dostoevsky.